Rugby Football League interim chief executive Ralph Rimmer has praised the work done by Wigan Warriors and Hull FC ahead of their tour in Australia.

Wigan will face the Black and Whites on Saturday, February 10 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, while the Warriors and FC are also set to clash with South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively in a double header at ANZ Stadium seven days later.

Rimmer, who was speaking at Thursday’s Super League launch, hopes the tour will increase the competition’s popularity globally, while the interim chief is also looking forward to competitive Hull derbies returning to the top tier.

“We are nothing if not innovative in rugby league and Hull and Wigan are going across to Australia and I have no doubt that there will be a big crowd for their games Down Under,” Rimmer explained.